Many scholars consider pathological
narcissism to be a form of depressive illness. This is the position of the
authoritative magazine "Psychology Today". The life of the typical
narcissist is, indeed, punctuated with recurrent bouts of dysphoria (ubiquitous
sadness and hopelessness), anhedonia (loss of the ability to feel pleasure),
and clinical forms of depression (cyclothymic, dysthymic, or other). This
picture is further obfuscated by the frequent presence of mood disorders, such
as Bipolar I
(co-morbidity).

While the distinction between reactive
(exogenous) and endogenous depression is obsolete, it is still useful in the
context of narcissism. Narcissists react with depression not only to life
crises but to fluctuations in Narcissistic Supply.

The narcissist's personality is disorganised
and precariously balanced. He regulates his sense of self-worth by consuming
Narcissistic Supply from others. Any threat to the uninterrupted flow of said
supply compromises his psychological integrity and his ability to function. It
is perceived by the narcissist as life threatening.

Indeed, depression can be conceptualized as a
reaction to the systemic failure of hitherto trustworthy and efficacious coping
strategies, either owing to a seismic change in circumstances and the
environment, or because of overwhelming new information.

I. Loss Induced Dysphoria

This is the narcissist's depressive reaction
to the loss of one or more Sources
of Narcissistic Supply – or to the disintegration of a Pathological
Narcissistic Space (PN Space, his stalking or hunting grounds, the social unit
whose members lavish him with attention).

II. Deficiency Induced Dysphoria

Deep and acute depression which follows the
aforementioned losses of Supply Sources or a PN Space. Having mourned these
losses, the narcissist now grieves their inevitable outcome – the absence or
deficiency of Narcissistic Supply. Paradoxically, this dysphoria energises the
narcissist and moves him to find new Sources of Supply to replenish his
dilapidated stock (thus initiating a Narcissistic Cycle).

III. Self-Worth Dysregulation Dysphoria

The narcissist reacts with depression to criticism or disagreement,
especially from a trusted and long-term Source of Narcissistic Supply. He fears
the imminent loss of the source and the damage to his own, fragile, mental
balance. The narcissist also resents his vulnerability and his extreme
dependence on feedback from others. This type of depressive reaction is,
therefore, a mutation of self-directed aggression.

(continued below)

This article appears in my book "Malignant Self-love: Narcissism
Revisited"

The narcissist's firmly, though
counterfactually, perceives himself as omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent,
brilliant, accomplished, irresistible, immune, and invincible. Any data to the
contrary is usually filtered, altered, or discarded altogether. Still,
sometimes reality intrudes and creates a Grandiosity Gap. The narcissist is
forced to face his mortality, limitations, ignorance, and relative inferiority.
He sulks and sinks into an incapacitating but short-lived dysphoria.

V. Self-Punishing Dysphoria

Deep inside, the narcissist hates himself and
doubts his own worth. He deplores his desperate addiction to Narcissistic Supply.
He judges his actions and intentions harshly and sadistically. He may be
unaware of these dynamics – but they are at the heart of the narcissistic
disorder and the reason the narcissist had to resort to narcissism as a defence
mechanism in the first place.

One therapeutic technique would be “anchoring”:
re-orienting the narcissist towards self-supply. Rather than resort to fickle
and ephemeral external sources of narcissistic supply, the narcissist is taught
and encouraged to resort to himself for same: to look forward with excited
anticipation to the structured pursuit of hobbies, vocation, traits, skills,
and reward-eliciting behaviors. This approach leverages the narcissist’s grandiose
solipsism and fantasy of omnipotence to render him emotionally self-sufficient.

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